Any recommendations for metronome?

[Bflat]

Hi,

I am looking for a metronome with a realistic wood block sound. Ideally it would allow accent placement. I think I would prefer a dial type control versus a button or "tap tempo".

I do have a couple of metronomes but looking for something simple with a mellow sound. Thanks.

Happy independence day!

[hot ford coupe]

I wish I could help you on this one. I've got an electric one (not battery powered) that has a nice click but it also has a light that flashes with each click. If I really want to check my timing, I can close my eyes, turn off the click sound and just leave the flashing light on for a chorus. Then I can open my eyes and see if I'm still in time with the light. I'd hate to tell you how many times I'm not synched with that light. It's a great exercise.

[Tom Karol]

HFC - I've got one of those ... somewhere. (I never found it after moving to our present house!) I think the brand was, "Thomas." It is (was) sort of a pyramid-shaped wooden box with a dial for speed if I recall. I'll have to look for it again!

[Tom Karol]

Aha - found a picture of it on the web. (Wish I could find the real one in a box somewhere in my garage or basement!) It's a, "Seth Thomas;" I guess it's more of a trapezoid than a pyramid.

[Subfeeder]

Korg KDM 2 Digital Metronome. Good tone (with a number of options although the default is the only one I would use), dial for tempo, accent placement, loud, easy button access (no multi-function buttons). My search for a good metronome stopped when I got this.

[brad4d8]

Originally Posted by Tom Karol

HFC - I've got one of those ... somewhere. (I never found it after moving to our present house!) I think the brand was, "Thomas." It is (was) sort of a pyramid-shaped wooden box with a dial for speed if I recall. I'll have to look for it again!

Franz made similar ones without the pyramid shape. Came plain vanilla (only clicks) with a light, and with one that could add a bell sound for beat one (or whichever you wanted). I think the light could also be set for one, but not sure. I have the plain vanilla one, when I studied with Lee Konitz, he had the one with the bell and light.
I like the idea of the light alone to check how well you keep time.
Brad

[bborzell]

If you want a "woody" sound from a metronome, you will need to get a modeling version that has a "wooden box" setting.

All seriousness aside, here is what I have been using since just before the beginning of time:

Amazon.com: Matrix MR-600 Metronome: Musical Instruments

It has a great knock instead of that irritating electronic chirp. Once I heard it, I was sold.

[spiral]

If you have an iPhone, check out Guitar Toolkit. I use it every day, and i always have it with me. You can have an accent or not, and choose the type of sound. Woodblock is what i use. For $10 it is a great deal considering you get a chord dictionary, tuner, metronome, and chord calculator.

[hot ford coupe]

Mine wasn't either of the two you guys mentioned. I'm not at home until tomorrow night so I'll be able to tell you which one I have. It has a dark brown plastic case and is about 6" long by about 4" wide by about 4" high. It has a diamond shaped light directly on the top and a dial on the front. It rattles a bit when I shake it but that's only been since I dropped it. it keeps great time. I don't.

[Retroman1969]

On the iPhone front, I use the Steinway & Sons metronome app. It's simple and has a big virtual dial in the middle for adjusting tempo. You set your time signature, you can set it to flash or not, or flash only, downbeat only, or down and up-beats, and it has that nice warm wooden box click that you described. (You can even select the wood finish you want it to look like! LOL!)
Best of all, it's free.

Steinway Metronome for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store

[Bflat]

Thanks for all the input. I just got the free app metronome (thanks retroman)
I just got an I pad so this will work fine for now. I just hope I don't drop this on the floor like I've done with my other metronomes!

Enjoy the day.

[Retroman1969]

No problem Bflat!
I had the same issues, finding most modern metronomes (and apps) unnecessarily complex with distractingly shrill 'beep-beep' or 'crack-ding' sounds. I tried and dumped a bunch before settling on this one.

PS: You might consider trying an Otter Defender case. Makes the delicate iPad nearly bulletproof. A bit pricy (like $60-$80) but worth it in piece of mind.

[pingu]

Online Metronome

free and good
no download reqd

[JakeAcci]

Originally Posted by Retroman1969

On the iPhone front, I use the Steinway & Sons metronome app. It's simple and has a big virtual dial in the middle for adjusting tempo. You set your time signature, you can set it to flash or not, or flash only, downbeat only, or down and up-beats, and it has that nice warm wooden box click that you described. (You can even select the wood finish you want it to look like! LOL!)
Best of all, it's free.

hey thanks for that! I've tried two other metronome apps and they've both come up short in big ways. This one seems pretty solid!

The "web metronome" app has an awesome feature which is that it can go all the way down to 1 bpm - unfortunately it's tempos are innacurate! It's consistent with itself but just simply has slower bpms. The web metronome's 100 is really about 95, it's 200 really 180, etc.

[musicalbodger]

Hi bflat,

If you want another free metronome online, I've found this one to be very good and versatile.

FREE METRONOME SOFTWARE - Best Metronome .com

[Retroman1969]

Originally Posted by JakeAcci

hey thanks for that! I've tried two other metronome apps and they've both come up short in big ways. This one seems pretty solid!

Cool, I'm sure you'll like it. It gets about the best metronome reviews in the app store and I can see why.

[mattymel]

im all about my TEMPO app on the iPhone. though it does crash every once in a while...